Idle Control Valve Hoses

[spinedoc2304]

Good Afternoon everyone!

Hope someone can help. I've got a 1991 300E with 187K on it and I need to clean out the idle control valve with some carb cleaner. Problem is that I can't remove either one of the hoses from the unit. Seems as if they are 'melted' on. Are there any products out there that will loosten the hoses from the metal of the ICV? Does anyone have any other solutions?

Nick

[long-gone]

Hi, if the hoses are that hardened it isn't likely you'll be able to remove them without cracking or damaging them. Even if you can wrangle them off they probably won't fit tightly again as they have lost their elasticity. You'll probably find that they need to be replaced.
They are usually a real pain to replace though, because of access and leverage problems. Note that aftermarket hoses are generally very poorly made (they are mold-cast rubber), particularly the one that goes to the head, which will definitely increase the difficulty putting it on. Get well made hoses from the dealer, it won't cost that much more and use lots of silicone to help them slide on. Last, there is a plastic nipple that facilitates the attachment of the other hose to the rubber boot that the throttle is mounted to. If that boot is hardened loike the hoses there's a risk it could crack as well when you try to remove or install the nipple.

[cliffmac]

I have a bunch of that tiny straw size hose in the closet...I replaced mine a couple of years ago, needed like 8 inches but had to buy like 3 feet of it...if you are talking about that hose...I'll give it to you if that's the hose you are talking about...to the idle control valve....yep...I gotta a bunch of it in the closet.....but it cost's nothing from a Mercedes dealership...it was like less than $5....

[samiam44]

I did this a few months ago to my M103-

No problems with the aftermarket Meyle parts. Intake side is very easy .. putting the nipple back in the boot was the hard part.
Dealer cost was $50 versus $10.


M

[long-gone]

The hoses I got were made by [conti-tech??], I think that was the name. The throttle side hose was okay and I used that one, but the head side hose was horrendously made. The two halves of the casting weren't lined up right and the ends were like hacked off unevenly. The clamp didn't have a whole piece of rubber to bite into and the underside barely fit over the nipple when the top side was butted up all the way. The hole for the cold start injector was way out of place as well. I had to get one from the dealer, it was only about $15 and was the more expensive of the two (I believe the pair would have been less than $30). It was an infinitely better fit.

I have also read other posts here relating complaints about aftermarket hoses for the AIC.